Dramatis Personæ.

LEAR, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Glo'ster.
Earl of Kent.
Edgar, Son to Glo'fter.
Edmund, Bastard Son to Glo'ster.
Curan, a Courtier.
Doctor.
Fool.
Oswald, Steward to Gonerill.
A Captain, employ'd by Edmund.
Gentleman, Attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.
Old Man, Tenant to Glo'fter.
Servant to Cornwall.

1 2d.

Servants to Glo'fter.

Knights attending on the King, Oficers, Messengers,

Soldiers and Attendants.

SCENE lies in Britain.

Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Bastard,

KENT

fon, my

Albany than Cornwall.

G!o. It did always seem so to us : but now, in the Division of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the Dukes he values molt; for qualities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this

your

lord ? Gle. His Breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often bluth'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

G'o. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon me grew round-womb’d; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere the had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot with the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

Glo.

A 3

my ac

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in count; though this knave came somewhat faucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund?

Edm. No, nay lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent;-
Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edn. My services to your lord ship.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.
Elm. Sir, I fall study your delerving.
Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
again.

[Trumpets found, within. The King is coming. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan,

Cordelia, aiid Attendants. Leor. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter. Glo. I shall, my Liege.

[Exit. Lear. Mean time we hall express our darker purpose, Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided, In three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent, To Make all cares and bufines, from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving fon of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters sev'ral Dow’rs, that future strife May be prevented now. The Princes France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our younger daughter's love, Long in our Court have made their am'rous sojourn, And here are to be answer’d. Tell me, daughters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Int'rest of territory, cares of state;) Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend, Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon.

Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour: As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found. A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, Beyond all manner of so much I love you. Cor. What shall Cordelia do? love and be silent.

[Aside.
Lear. Of all these bounds, ev’n from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champions sich’d,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual. Wha: fays our second daughter, ,
Our deareft Regan, wife of Cornweil? fpeak.

Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my lifler,
And prize me at her worth, in my true Heart. (1)
I find, the names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too thort: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense pofleffes ;
And find, I ain alone felicitate
In your dear Highness' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia !
And yet not fo, fince, I am sure, my love's
More pond'rous than my tongue.

[Alide.
Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair Kingdom;
No leis in space, validity, and pleasure,
'Than that conferr'd on Gonzrill.-- Now our joy,
Although our last, not least; to whose, young love,
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be intress’d: what say you, to draw
A third, more opulent than your sisters ? speak.

Cor. Nothing, my lord. (1) And prize me at her worth. In my true heart.] Mr. Bishop prescrib'd the pointing of this passage, as I have regulated it in the text. Regan would say, that in the truth of her heart and affection, the equals worth of her fifter. Without this change in the jointing, he makes a boast of herself without any cause aflign'd.

Lear.

A4

Lear. Nothing?
Cor. Nothing
Lear. Nothing can come of nothing ; speak again.

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your Majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little,
Left you may mar your fortunes.

Cor. Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. I
Return thofe duties back, as are right fit;
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my filters husbands, if they say,
They love you, all? hap'ly, when I shall wed,
Thai lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry
Half
my

love with him, haif my care and duty. Sure, I Mall never marry

like
my

fisters, To love my father all.

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?
Cor. Ay, my good lord.
Lear. So young, and so untender ?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower ;
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night,
By all the operations of the orbs,
From whom we do exift, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity, and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barb'rous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation, meffes
To gorge his appetite; shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou, my fometime daughter.

Kent. Good my Liege

Lear. Peace, Kent !
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I lov'd her most, and thought to let my rest

On